Proteomics Study on the Differentially Expressed Proteins in c-fos-silenced Cells Exposed to PM 2.5.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of c-fos gene silencing on differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells after exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5). METHODS: HBE cells and c-fos-silenced HBE cells were exposed to 50 µg/mL PM 2.5, LC-MS/MS and tandem mass tag (TMT) labeling methods were combined with bioinformatics methods, and DEPs and interaction networks were identified. RESULTS: In the HBE group, 414 DEPs were screened, of which 227 were up-regulated and 187 down-regulated. In the c-fos silenced HBE group, 480 DEPs were screened, including 240 up-regulated proteins and 240 down-regulated proteins. KEGG annotations showed that DEPs in the HBE group are mainly concentrated in the glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathway and those in the c-fos silenced group are concentrated mainly in endoplasmic reticulum and the processing of proteins. Additionally, the abnormal expression of GPRC5C, DKK4, and UBE2C was identified in top 15 DEPs. After constructing the protein interaction network, 20 Hub proteins including HNRNPA2B1, HNRNPL, RPS15A, and RPS25 were screened from the HBE group and the c-fos silenced HBE group. CONCLUSION: c-fos gene affected the expression of cancer-related proteins. Our results provided a scientific basis for further study of PM 2.5-induced carcinogenesis mechanism.

Construction of highly pure nanocrystalline heteropoly acid inside the channels of mesoporous material with the imprisoned hydrolyzation reaction of heteropoly acid etherate.

A novel technique was developed to prepare highly pure heteropoly acid (HPA) nanocrystals inside mesoporous SBA-15 by the imprisoned reaction of HPA etherate and water, which was utilized as a main driving force for the transportation of building-blocks. The transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, FT-IR spectrum and NMR characterizations unambiguously demonstrate that this method allows the highly pure heteropoly acid nanocrystals with intact Keggin-type structure controlled directionally self-assembly within mesopores of silica SBA-15. Such method may open up a new entry to the highly pure multicomponent nanocrystalline particles inside the cavity of the porous materials.

[Study on the genetic damage in mice induced by the volatile organic compounds of decoration materials].

OBJECTIVE: To study genetic damage of mice caused by the volatile organic compounds (VOC) of decoration materials. METHODS: Fifty-five hotel guest rooms newly decorated within 6 months and 18 hotel guest rooms not decorated within 3 years were selected to determine the concentrations of 6 main VOC (benzene, methylbenzene, dimethylbenzene, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, formaldehyde) in the air. Mice were exposed to VOC with the concentrations of 5, 10, 20, 40 times respectively as high as those present in the newly decorated rooms in an exposure cabinet for 15 days. DNA damage of peripheral lymphocytes of the mice was determined by single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) and bone marrow micronucleus test. RESULTS: The concentrations of benzene, methylbenzene, dimethylbenzene, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate and formaldehyde in the rooms newly decorated within 6 months (6.50, 3.00, 6.70, 41.33, 1.70 and 0.14 mg/m(3) respectively) were significantly higher than those in rooms not decorated within 3 years (0.08, 0.94, 1.38, 0.25, 0.25, 0.01 mg/m(3), P < 0.01). DNA damage rates of peripheral lymphocytes in the concentrations of 10, 20, 40 times of exposure groups were significantly higher than those in the control groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and the frequencies of micronucleus in the mice exposed to 40 times of concentration was significantly higher than that in control group. CONCLUSION: High concentrations of the volatile organic chemical compounds may cause genetic damage in mice. SCGE test is more sensitive than micronucleus test.

Grip strength measurement in older adults in Taiwan: a comparison of three testing positions.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of three commonly used positions on grip strength measurement in older people. METHOD: A total of 249 (113 women, 136 men) older participants, 72.8 ± 6.5 years old, participated in this study. Grip strength (kg) was measured in three positions: (i) the standard posture (sitting, elbow flexed 90°) suggested by the American Society of Hand Therapists; (ii) standing, elbow flexed 90°; and (3) standing, elbow fully extended. RESULTS: One-way repeated measures analysis of variance showed that grip strength was significantly greater in the standing position with the elbow fully extended than in the other two positions. CONCLUSIONS: The grip strengths obtained from the three positions were not all comparable in our community-dwelling older adults. Clinicians and researchers need to be cautious when choosing testing position for assessing and interpreting grip strength results obtained from these positions.

[Study of generational risk in deafness inflicted couples using deafness gene microarray technique].

OBJECTIVE: To explored the significance of screening the gene mutations of deafness related in deaf-mute (deaf & dumb) family using DNA microarray. METHODS: Total of 52 couples of deaf-mute were recruited from Changchun deaf-mute community. With an average age of (58.3 ± 6.7) years old (x(-) ± s). Blood samples were obtained with informed consent. Their genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and PCR was performed. Nine of hot spot mutations in four most common deafness pathologic gene were examined with the DNA microarray, including GJB2, GJB3, PDS and mtDNA 12S rRNA genes. At the same time, the results were verified with the traditional methods of sequencing. Fifty of normal people served as a control group. RESULTS: All patients were diagnosed non-syndromic sensorineural hearing loss by subjective pure tone audiometry. Thirty-two of 104 cases appeared GJB2 gene mutation (30.7%), the mutation sites included 35delG, 176del16, 235delC and 299delAT. Eighteen of 32 cases of GJB2 mutations were 235delC (59.1%). Seven of 104 cases appeared SLC26A4 gene IVS7-2 A > G mutation. Questionnaire survey and gene diagnosis revealed that four of 52 families have deaf offspring (7.6%). When a couple carries the same gene mutation, the risk of their children deafness was 100%. The results were confirmed with the traditional methods of sequencing. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high risk of deafness if a deaf-mute family is planning to have a new baby. It is very important and helpful to avoid deaf newborns again in deaf-mute family by DNA microarray.

Translation and validation of the Nepean Dyspepsia Index for functional dyspepsia in China.

AIM: To assess the reliability and validity of the translated version of Nepean Dyspepsia Index (NDI) in Chinese patients with documented functional dyspepsia (FD). METHODS: The translation process included forward translation, back translation, pretest and cross-cultural adaptation. Reliability and validity of the translated version were examined by asking 300 subjects to complete the Chinese version of the NDI. The mean age of subjects was 39.24 years and 68.7% of the subjects were women. Internal consistency analysis with Cronbach's alpha was performed to test the reliability. Correlation analysis was used to assess the content validity. Factor analysis and structural equation models were used to assess the construct validity. RESULTS: The Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranged 0.833-0.960, well above the acceptable level of 0.70. Correlation analysis showed that each item had a strong correlation with the corresponding domain, but a weak correlation with other domains. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the comparative fit index was 0.94, higher than the acceptable level of 0.90. CONCLUSION: The Chinese version of the NDI is a reliable and valid scale for measuring health-related quality of life and disease severity in Chinese patients with FD.

Acupuncture as a treatment for functional dyspepsia: design and methods of a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture is widely used in China to treat functional dyspepsia (FD). However, its effectiveness in the treatment of FD, and whether FD-specific acupoints exist, are controversial. So this study aims to determine if acupuncture is an effective treatment for FD and if acupoint specificity exists according to traditional acupuncture meridians and acupoint theories. DESIGN: This multicenter randomized controlled trial will include four acupoint treatment groups, one non-acupoint control group and one drug (positive control) group. The four acupoint treatment groups will focus on: (1) specific acupoints of the stomach meridian; (2) non-specific acupoints of the stomach meridian; (3) specific acupoints of alarm and transport points; and (4) acupoints of the gallbladder meridian. These four groups of acupoints are thought to differ in terms of clinical efficacy, according to traditional acupuncture meridians and acupoint theories. A total of 120 FD patients will be included in each group. Each patient will receive 20 sessions of acupuncture treatment over 4 weeks. The trial will be conducted in eight hospitals located in three centers of China. The primary outcomes in this trial will include differences in Nepean Dyspepsia Index scores and differences in the Symptom Index of Dyspepsia before randomization, 2 weeks and 4 weeks after randomization, and 1 month and 3 months after completing treatment. DISCUSSION: The important features of this trial include the randomization procedures (controlled by a central randomization system), a standardized protocol of acupuncture manipulation, and the fact that this is the first multicenter randomized trial of FD and acupuncture to be performed in China. The results of this trial will determine whether acupuncture is an effective treatment for FD and whether using different acupoints or different meridians leads to differences in clinical efficacy. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Clinical Trials.gov Identifier: NCT00599677.

X, A, B, C, and D states of the C6H5F+ ion studied using multiconfiguration wave functions.

Electronic states of the C6H5F+ ion have been studied within C2v symmetry by using the complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) and multiconfiguration second-order perturbation theory (CASPT2) methods in conjunction with an atomic natural orbital basis. Vertical excitation energies (Tv) and relative energies (Tv') at the ground-state geometry of the C6H5F molecule were calculated for 12 states. For the five lowest-lying states, 1(2)B1, 1(2)A2, 2(2)B1, 1(2)B2, and 1(2)A1, geometries and vibrational frequencies were calculated at the CASSCF level, and adiabatic excitation energies (T0) and potential energy curves (PEC) for F-loss dissociations were calculated at the CASPT2//CASSCF level. On the basis of the CASPT2 T0 calculations, we assign the X, A, B, C, and D states of the ion to 1(2)B1, 1(2)A2, 2(2)B1, 1(2)B2, and 1(2)A1, respectively, which supports the suggested assignment of the B state to (2)(2)B1 by Anand et al. based on their experiments. Our CASPT2 Tv and Tv' calculations and our MRCI T0, Tv, and Tv' calculations all indicate that the 2(2)B1 state of C6H5F+ lies below 1(2)B2. By checking the relative energies of the asymptote products and checking the fragmental geometries and the charge and spin density populations in the asymptote products along the CASPT2//CASSCF PECs, we conclude that the 1(2)B1, 1(2)B2, and 1(2)A1 states of C6H5F+ correlate with C6H5+ (1(1)A1) + F (2P) (the first dissociation limit). The energy increases monotonically along the 1(2)B1 PEC, and there are barriers and minima along the 1(2)B2 and 1(2)A1 PECs. The predicted appearance potential value for C6H5+ (1(1)A1) is very close to the average of the experimental values. Our CASPT2//CASSCF PEC calculations have led to the conclusion that the 1(2)A2 state of C6H5F+ correlates with the third dissociation limit of C6H5+ (1(1)A2) + F (2P), and a preliminary discussion is presented.

Assembly of heteropoly acid nanoparticles in SBA-15 and its performance as an acid catalyst.

Keggin-type 12-tungstophosphoric acid (TPA) nanocrystals have been assembled inside the pores of mesoporous silica through a vacuum impregnation method by using large-pore SBA-15 as a nanoreactor. The product was characterized by Brunauer-Emmet-Teller particle size distribution (BET-PSD), NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), tranmsission electron microscopy (TEM), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and FT-IR of adsorbed pyridine. The experimental results illustrate that the TPA nanocrystals are excellent Brønsted acid catalytic materials at room temperature.